Kodak Goes Old School at CES With New Super 8 Film Camera

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Jan. 6, 2016, 12:27 AM GMT / Updated Jan. 6, 2016, 12:27 AM GMT

By Devin Coldewey

Ever wanted to shoot a home movie on 8-millimeter film? Yesterday, anyone might have told you that you missed your chance by a few decades — but Kodak surprised the world Tuesday with the announcement of a brand new Super 8 film camera that it hopes will kick off a revival of the nearly forgotten format.

"By launching its first Super 8 camera product in more than 30 years, Kodak is demonstrating its resolve to ensure that film plays an important role in the future of filmmakers — both professionals and amateurs," read the press release announcing the device, which Kodak teased on Instagram over the weekend.

The concept camera being shown off at CES in Las Vegas this week will combine analog recording with digital convenience: digital recording of audio, an electronic viewfinder and other modern contrivances. But it will only shoot 8mm film — Super 8, to be specific, an improved, proprietary version of 8mm that Kodak first released in 1965.

Kodak confirmed to NBC News that any standard Super 8 cartridge will work with the camera, so keep an eye out for vintage stock.

For those who don't remember: Once you shoot a reel, what happens next? Well, you'll send it off to be processed, after which you can receive digital copies of the resulting movie — or run the finished film through a projector, like old times.

Will this Hail Mary to save a dying format lead to a successful sequel, like that of instant film, or will this high-tech piece of nostalgia end up on the cutting room floor? Much will depend on the price and other variables — which Kodak has yet to announce. We'll know more over the next year as the company's "Super 8 Revival Initiative" proceeds in 2016.

Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer at NBC News; he started his role in April of 2013. Coldewey is responsible for original reporting on a number of tech topics, such as photography, biotechnology, and Internet policy.

Coldewey joined NBCNews.com from TechCrunch, where he was an editor covering a similarly wide variety of content and industries. His personal website is coldewey.cc.